Thanks to all of you for your kind words. I have so enjoyed looking at everyone's ideas and homes that I was inspired to post my own. I have to say it was such fun taking the pictures and learning about photobucket. I do enjoy the collecting of Christmas stuff but like most of you here on the boards I am budget minded too. When I get some on these gorgeous items on sale after the holidays it makes it that much sweeter. To answer some of your questions: Kathleen li - I love the ironing board Santa in the hall display too. It isn't really an ironing board but a piece of plywood with fabric and paint done to look like Santa. I bought it years ago at a craft fair here in Birmingham, AL for less than $20. The santa portrait is new this year from Kirkland's Home. The have one every year and it is only $59. I got it last week at 25% off. Calicocat1967 - I like the Santa plates. I was fortunate enough to most of them from Fitz and Floyd last year on Christmas day. They put everything on sale and I get their emails telling when. I picked them up for less than $10 each. The covered dish in the kitchen corner cabinet came from Tuesday Morning after Christmas last year. It is a Christopher Radko but I only paid $15 for it on sale. luvstocraft - Thanks for thinking I "belong". I kind of felt like I did and it's nice to point out to hubby "There are others like me. I'm not the only one always picking up dishes or decorations everywhere I go" One of the things I have enjoyed about the board is the comradery. Every when I didn't post I felt apart of the community. I am glad that I came out of lurkdom. I got the angles in the pictures for 25 cents a print years ago and had them framed for less than $10 each. I stole the hanging on a ribbon and dowel idea from a magazine. Very eye catching and costs very little too. phyl345 - I'm glad you enjoyed it. sameboat - Thanks for looking and commenting. melvalena- I hope I didn't create new work for you for next year. I am enjoying changing up things a bit from year to year, so I love the ideas you guys come up with. Hope you have a wonderful holiday with your grandkids. bonniee- Thank you. I enjoyed your post about decorations too. mary ruth - Thanks, I love the Fitz and Floyd too. I got the large santas on top of the refridgerator last year on Christmas day. They are normally $350 each but on their clearance/outlet on their website they were only $89. I know that is still expensive, but I couldn't pass up the chance for something so large and beautiful for that price. I ordered my mom and her sister one for this year's Christmas present. I am so excited to give them to them. They are the chief decorators in the family so I came by it honestly. slinkey - What a nice welcome. Thanks for you praise and I feel like I will be a regular now that I've broken the ice. I do love my home. It is older and I actually came to these boards because we are considering building a new home on a lot we bought so I was researching building and come across this board on a search. But it didn't take me long to go from the Building a House forum to Decorating to Christmas/Holidays. purplemoon - I have loved all of your decorations and posts for the year. I thank you for your comments. The pair of large leaping reindeer are my "pride and joy". This is the first year I have displayed them, getting them last Christmas Day online. They came from Frontgate, which is not a store that I can normally afford. But after Christmas they put all their stuff on sale and mark it down a little more each week. On their website is a section called Outlet. I did not know of it and wanted a large reindeer for my fireplace hearth, so I searched and got a hit on them. The are regularly $199 each and but were on clearance for $59 each. Again a little more than I normally pay for a Christmas decoration, but a great deal on a heavy well made piece. I am pleased with the display. I would be honored to have some of my stuff in the Inspiration Album. Thanks for asking. Does that mean I have "arrived"? Ha-Ha. Feel free to look all you want. prosperity66 - Thanks for your kind words. I am glad others enjoyed it. Thanks again to all of you and I am off to scour the Internet for any clearance deals, but not ever sure where I could possibly put more if I find it. Merry Christmas!

That's funny, I have pork tenderloin out, and mushrooms in the fridge. I am making this with my pork tenderloin. It is very good, and the pork is nice and tender. You could always add some mushrooms to the sauce. Paprika pork medallions 2 pork tenderloins sliced 1/4 thick on the bias (about 1 oz slices) sea salt and fresh black peppercorns flour for dredging 2 tbsp olive oil 1 large clove garlic thinly sliced 1/3 c dry sherry 1/2 c chicken stock 1 tsp sweet paprika 2 tbsp sour cream chopped fresh flat leaf parsley Dredge pork slices in flour and season with s/p. Heat oil in large skillet on med high. Fry the pork slices cooking 3 to 4 pieces at a time depending on size of pan. Fry for about 2 min per side until just golden and still slightly pink in the center. Remove the pork from the pan and transfer to plate and tent with foil. Repeat until all pork is cooked adding more oil to pan if needed. Using the same skillet cook the garlic over med heat for 1 min or until golden. Add the sherry, paprika and stock. Reduce for 3-4 min to develop the flavor and reduce by half. Remove from heat and whisk in the sour cream. Return pork to skillet and cook on low for about 1 min or until meat is cooked through. Sprinkle with choppped parsley and serve. (note this makes about enough sauce to just cover the pork) I am serving it with this rice dish which will be cooked in my rice cooker, although I am sure it can be easily adapted for stove top. Also serving corn and salad. 1 1/2 c long grain white rice 2 c chicken stock 2 tbsp olive oil 2 small white onions chopped 1/4 c pine nuts 1/4 c fresh lemon juice 1 tbsp minced fresh dill or 1 tsp dillweed 1 1/2 tsps minced fresh mint leaves or 1/2 tsp dried, crumbled mint leaves 1 c crumbled feta 1 lemon cut into eight wedges coat the rice cooker bowl with nonstick cooking spray or olive oil. Place the rice in the bowl. Add the stock, swirl to combine. Clove the cover and set for regular cycle. When machine switches to keep warm cycle, let rice steam for ten minutes. While rice is steaming in a small skillet heat the olive oil over med heat. Add onions and cook stirring until translucent and softened about five min. Add the pine nuts and cook stirring constantly until golden brown. When the rice steaming period is finished add the sauteed mixture to the rice bowl along with the lemon juice, dill, and mint. Stir with a spoon to evenly distribute. Close cover and let rice steam for and additional ten minutes on the keep warm cycle. Serve immediately topped with some feta and lemon wedge on the side. The rice can be kept on the warm cycle for up to two hours but don't add the lemon juice, dill and mint until ten min before serving. Shelley

The rug looks much better. Are you happy with the change? I would love to see a bit of color - orange, red, yellow. Use your designer brain and think out of the box for inexpensive wall decor. Framed wall paper samples, framed maps of favorite places, thrift store plate arrangement, shallow baskets, etc. Have fun with it!

I now have for bleeding heart Dicentra ‘Gold Heart’ plants. I seem to see these used a lot almost as a bright punctuation mark in the shade garden. I’m not sure if I should group them together or separate them. Show me your photos of how you use yours!